Minnesota United owner renews push for soccer stadium subsidies

The owner of the Minnesota United FC renewed his push at the Capitol on Thursday for state assistance in building a new soccer stadium in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul.

Without the tax exemptions, team owner Dr. Bill McGuire said, the stadium might not be built.

"It would be very difficult and will be very difficult for us to make that commitment," he told a committee.

The team and St. Paul city officials are asking legislators for the site of new Major League Soccer stadium to continue to be exempt from property taxes.

Team owners also are seeking a tax exemption on building materials, supplies and equipment for the 20,000 seat outdoor stadium. McGuire and the other team owners are not seeking a direct taxpayer subsidy.

Minnesota United owners want to build a $150 million open-air stadium on the site of an old Metro Transit bus warehouse. The stadium would be owned by the city. The proposal was heard by the House taxes committee Thursday, but was not voted on. Along with the tax breaks, the city is also asking for permission to sell alcohol at the new stadium.

The proposal has not drawn a lot of public opposition at the Capitol, where the request is far more modest than what legislators wrestled over for the new $1.2 billion Minnesota Vikings stadium.

But neighborhood opposition has emerged, as residents are raising concerns about noise, traffic and parking issues at the 10 acres of vacant land near Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue.

Supporters of the measures, which have bipartisan support, say construction of a new stadium would boost property values and help spur redevelopment in an area of St. Paul that would otherwise be viewed as less desirable.

"This is an opportunity to revitalize the Midway district of the city of St. Paul — an area that has desperately needed a shot in the arm for many many years," St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said at Thursday's meeting.

Legislators are trying to get the agreement signed into law during a very short session, which ends in a little over a month.

The stadium bills are sponsored by Rep. Tim Sanders, R-Blaine, and Sen. Sandy Pappas, DFL-St. Paul.

Team owners are hoping to begin construction this summer, which would put the stadium on track to open for the 2018 season.

Christopher Aadland is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.